Michael Wilhoite

Last updated

Michael Wilhoite
Michael Wilhoite 2015.JPG
Wilhoite with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015
Personal information
Born: (1986-12-07) December 7, 1986 (age 38)
Manhattan, Kansas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school: Highland Park (Topeka, Kansas)
College: Washburn (2005–2010)
NFL draft: 2011: undrafted
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:298
Sacks:0.5
Forced fumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:1
Interceptions:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Michael Wilhoite (born December 7, 1986) is an American professional football coach and former linebacker who was most recently the outside linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washburn University where he played six different positions, including linebacker and safety. [1] He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League (UFL) in 2011.

Contents

Early years

Prior to playing in the NFL, Wilhoite's coaches would use him at other positions due to his athleticism, which also included quarterback in high school. He had played six different positions in total during his college career.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeight 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0+5⁄8 in
(1.84 m)		240 lb
(109 kg)		4.70 s1.64 s2.70 s4.14 s6.73 s36.5 in
(0.93 m)		10 ft 9 in
(3.28 m)		22 reps
All values from Pro Day [2]

Omaha Nighthawks

After going unselected in the 2011 NFL draft, Wilhoite signed with the Omaha Nighthawks and spent the entire 2011 UFL season with them. [3]

San Francisco 49ers

Wilhoite (second on the left) on a special teams play in Super Bowl XLVII. 49ers special teams Super Bowl XLVII.jpg
Wilhoite (second on the left) on a special teams play in Super Bowl XLVII.

On December 14, 2011, Wilhoite was signed to the practice squad of the San Francisco 49ers. [4] [5]

He was waived for final roster cuts before the start of the 2012 season, but was signed back to the practice squad on September 1, 2012. [6] After being on the practice squad for twelve weeks in 2012, he was promoted to the active roster. [1] [7] He finished with 11 tackles and made several key plays on special teams during the 49ers run to Super Bowl XLVII, where they fell 34–31 to the Baltimore Ravens. [8] [9]

After the Super Bowl, he remained part of the 49ers active roster the next season. [10]

Set to be a restricted free agent, Wilhoite was offered a tender by the 49ers on March 12, 2014. [11] He signed his tender on April 21. [12]

On November 16, 2014, against the New York Giants, Wilhoite recorded his first career interception, which came off of Eli Manning. [13]

On March 8, 2016, Wilhoite signed a one-year contract extension with the 49ers. [14]

Seattle Seahawks

On March 24, 2017, Wilhoite signed with the Seattle Seahawks. [15]

Coaching career

New Orleans Saints

Wilhoite was hired by the New Orleans Saints as a special teams assistant in 2019. [16] [17]

Los Angeles Chargers

On February 14, 2021, the Los Angeles Chargers hired Wilhoite as their linebackers coach. [18]

On January 19, 2023, Wilhoite was fired by the Chargers, despite developing success stories such as Kyzir White and Drue Tranquill. [19]

Denver Broncos

On February 23, 2023, the Denver Broncos hired Wilhoite as their outside linebackers coach. [20] On February 23, 2025, Wilhoite was arrested and charged with second-degree assault of a police officer following an altercation at the Denver International Airport. [21] Due to this incident, the Broncos announced on March 5 that they had fired Wilhoite. [22]

References

  1. 1 2 Branch, Eric (August 12, 2013). "Parents boost 49ers linebacker Michael Wilhoite". SFGate.com. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Michael Wilhoite College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  3. ↑ UFL 2011 Season Rosters Announced
  4. ↑ Corbitt, Ken (December 23, 2011). "WU's Wilhoite gets NFL shot with 49ers". CJOnline.com. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  5. ↑ Branch, Eric (December 14, 2011). "49ers sign LB Wilhoite to practice squad; release RB Johnson". SFGate.com. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  6. ↑ "49ers Sign 8 Players To Practice Squad". SanFrancisco.CBSLocal.com. September 1, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  7. ↑ 49ers promote LB Wilhoite from practice squad
  8. ↑ "Michael Wilhoite Stats".
  9. ↑ "Super Bowl XLVII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens - February 3rd, 2013". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  10. ↑ Price, Taylor (May 1, 2014). "Michael Wilhoite: 'My Goal Is to Be the Starter'". 49ers.com. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  11. ↑ Crabtree, Curtis (March 12, 2014). "49ers tender Demarcus Dobbs and Michael Wilhoite". NBCSports.com. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  12. ↑ Barrows, Matt (April 21, 2014). "Michael Wilhoite, a possible starter at linebacker, signs tender". SacBee.com. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  13. ↑ "San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants - November 16th, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  14. ↑ "49ers Tender One-year Contracts to LB Michael Wilhoite and OL Jordan Devey". 49ers.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  15. ↑ Boyle, John (March 24, 2017). "Seahawks Sign Linebacker Michael Wilhoite". Seahawks.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Saints' special teams coaching staff adds Michael Wilhoite". USA Today. March 3, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Saints give Wilhoite opportunity to take 'next step' in NFL career". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Chargers announce Saints assistant Michael Wilhoite as linebackers coach". saintswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Chargers fire linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite". chargerswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Report: Broncos Hire Two Linebacker Coaches". si.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  21. ↑ Brinkerhoff, Nick. "Broncos' LB coach Michael Wilhoite charged in airport altercation incident". USA Today. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  22. ↑ Jensen, Chad (March 5, 2025). "Broncos Fire Coach After Allegedly Assaulting a Police Officer". Denver Broncos On SI. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
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